The Scientific method

By Biology Guy

An Introduction to the Scientific Method and

Investigation

Thank you!

By Biology Guy

Thank you for purchasing this resource on the scientific method. I hope that you enjoy this product.

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The Scientific method

By Biology Guy

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to:

• Describe the different steps of the scientific method.

• Apply knowledge of the scientific method to their own scientific investigation.

The Scientific Method

.

The Scientific Method is used everyday by scientists to investigate problems and answer questions.

Ask a question

Do background research

Construct a Hypothesis

Test your hypothesisBy doing an experiment

Analyze your data and Draw a conclusion

Report your results. Was your hypothesis correct

By Biology Guy ©

The Scientific Method

Ask a questionThe question can relate to a Specific observation (eg Why is the Sky blue?) or open ended question (Which spot cream works best?)There are so many questions, look at the world around you. What are youInterested in?

ASK A QUESTION

By Biology Guy ©

Possible questions:1. If my dog could eat anything what would he eat?2. Why are some deodorants more expensive and better than others?

The Scientific Method

. Do background

research

Do background researchQuestion: Why is the Sky Blue?

Once you have your question, research it using the internet or a textbook. It may generate more questions, or give you a possible answer.

Possible Answers:1. Because the sky reflects blue.2. Because it is made up of blue matter.3. Because particles in the sky refract and

scatters the blue wavelength of light.

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The Scientific Method

Construct a Hypothesis

Construct a hypothesisOnce you have possible answers from your research, you need to pick one answer that you think is most accurate. You then need to explain why this is, using your scientific research.

“I think that light is made up of different colors, one of them being blue. Particles in the sky refract and scatter blue light making it appear as the sky is blue.”

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The Scientific Method

Test your hypothesisBy doing

an experiment

Test your hypothesisMy hypothesis is that the sky is blue because it refracts and scatters blue light from the light spectrum.

I will test my hypothesis by seeing if light can be separated into different colors. If it can this would help prove this hypothesis.

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The Scientific Method

Test your hypothesisBy doing

an experiment

Test your hypothesis

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My Experiment:1. Materials: prism (to separate light), light ray box, 2. Method: (What will I do) i. collect equipment and set up using the diagram ii. Shine light into the prism iii. Record your results

The Scientific Method

Analyze your data and Draw a

conclusion

Analyze your data Draw conclusionsOnce you have completed your experiment, look at the results, and comment on any patterns, observations, findings.

You may include graphs, pictures, and/or recordings.

Example: “From my experiment you can see in the photographic evidence that light can be separated into the 7 colors of the rainbow. This proves that Blue is a part of white light and that it could be separated and scattered across the sky, making the sky look blue.”

By Biology Guy ©

The Scientific Method

Report your results.

Was your hypothesis

Correct?

Report your results

Was your hypothesis correct?

Produce a posterboard, PowerPoint, Scientific Journal, Website ,Video or booklet of your experiment and findings.

If your results supported your hypothesis you were correct, if they did not, you may want to carry out some further research, and possible conduct another experiment. This could be expressed in your evaluation.

By Biology Guy ©

.

VOCABULARY WORDSHypothesis: An explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

Observation: To look at and record what you see.

Phenomenon: a fact or event of scientific interest which can be described and explained through science.

Scientific Investigation: a method of research where the answer to a problem is discovered through the application of science

Variable: This is something that can change in an experiment

Independent variable: is something that you change in an experiment, you have control over it.

Dependent variable: this is something that you observe and it is usually affected by the independent variable. You have no control over it.

By Biology Guy ©

The Scientific Method

.

Ask a question

Do background research

Construct a Hypothesis

Test your hypothesisBy doing an experiment

Analyze your data and Draw a conclusion

Report your results.Was your hypothesis

Correct?

Match them up:

A. Go on the internet

B. Why do plants need sunlight?

D. I think plants need sunlightBecause they get energy from it

E. I will grow one plant in theDark and one in the sun light

C. My graph shows that thePlant in the dark grew verylittle

F. I will write my results upUsing a posterboard.

Scientific Method1. Produce a visual display; poster or PowerPoint, to describe

and give examples of the scientific method.

2. Produce a song about the Scientific Method, that will help you remember the different stages and what they are for.

3. Make a list of possible questions that you would like to investigate.

4. Produce your own Scientific Investigation, demonstrating your knowledge of the scientific method